Vacuum flask sealing machine



April 22, 1952 c. EISLER 2,593,999

VACUUM FLASK SEALING MACHINE Filed Oct. 1. 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet l Q Q Q s Clflf'd 5.125 av ATTORNEY A ril 22, 1952 c. EISLER 2,593,999

VACUUM FLASK SEALING MACHINE Filed 061',- l. 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. A64 4 4 av Emma,

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/ ATTORNEY April 22, 1952 c. EISLER 2,593,999

VACUUM FLASK SEALING MACHINE Filed Oct. 1. 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. HAR 4.5a 5/4251 BY April 22, 1952 c. EISLER 2,593,999

VACUUM FLASK SEALING MACHINE Filed Oct. 1. 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 ATTORNEY April 22, 1952 c. EISLER VACUUM FLASK SEALING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Oct. 1. 1949 INVENTOR. CH4 ,4 1. 5.! 5/.

ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 22, 1952 UNITE ATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in vacuum flask sealing machines. The invention is particularly designed. to provide a novel machine for forming vacuum flasks and for molding the same from an inner flask and an outer blank.

The invention provides a novel molding unit and means for actuating same, and novel means for preforining the flask.

Pursuant to the invention, vacuum flasks may be produced with a high degree of accuracy on a machine which lends itself to production line use.

These and other advantageous objects, which will appear from the drawings, and from the description hereinafter, are accomplished by the structure of my invention, or which embodiments are illustrated in the drawings. It will be ap parent, from a consideration of said drawings, and the following description, that the invention may be embodied in other forms suggested thereby,

and such other forms as come within the scope of the appended claims are to be consideredwithin the scope and purview of the instant invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a schematic elevational View, partly sectional, showing successive stages of sealing vacuum flasks pursuant to the instant invention,

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of a machine embodying the invention, having stages or positions numbered with Roman numerals to correspond to those shown in Fig. l,

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of a device for operating the molds and shaping rollers, pursuant to the invention,

Fig. 4 is a partly sectional, elevational view of the sealing head of the machine, the inner flask and the outer blanks being shown in position,

Fig. 5 is an elevational View of a sleeve for retaining the outer blank,

Fig. 5-A is a transverse sectional View thereof, taken on line A-A of Fig. 5,

Fig. 6 is an elevational view the molding and lip forming mechanism,

Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view of the neck and lip forming molds,

Fig. 8 is a plan view of molds in closing position,

Fig. 9 is a schematic showing of means forop crating the shaping rollers, the reference numbers V, VI, VII, IX indicating the parts at correspondingly numbered positions or stations in Figs. 1 and 2,

Fig. 10 is a perspective view showing the driving roller and its operating means, these parts being also shown at position VII of Figs. 2 and 9, and

Fig. 11 is an elevational view showing the shaping roller preceding the driving roller and the means for operating it.

The object of the invention is to eliect the sealing of a vacuum flask or bottle by the means described hereinafter.

Fig. 2 illustrates one form of the machine, which includes the table l5 On top of which is disposed the spider l 6, secured to the index plate l8 fixed to the sleeve shaft [9, actuated by an indexin device, such as the barrel cam. II. On the inner shaft 29 is mounted a large spurgear a for rotating the sealing heads. The shaft 26 has keyed thereto bevel gear 2| meshing with bevel gear 22 on shaft 23, the latter shaft being rotated by any suitable means, such as the belt and pulley transmissions 24 and 25. The pulley 25 is mounted on shaft 28, on which is also mounted the barrel-cam l7. Shaft 26 is rotated by any suitable means, such as by the worm 28 on the shaft 29 driven by belt transmission 39--3i from motor 32, engaging the wormgear 27 of shaft 26. The above described transmission or an equivalent may be used for the purpose mentioned.

The spider It carries a plurality-for example, twelve-sealing heads 33, some of which are shown in Fig. 2 in dotted lines. The twelve positions, designated by Roman numerals, are the loading position I and the unloading position XII, and intermediate positions II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX, X and Xlf.

Each of the sealing heads (Fig. 4) has an upper head 34 for retaining the flask and a lower head containing the guides for the lifting rod and the sealing rod. The vacuum bottle and the sealing rod are constantly rotating except at the molding position X, the unloading position XII, and the loading position I, at which stations their rotation is stopped by means hereinafter mentioned and illustrated in Fig. 4.

The outer blank I 3 is retained in the resiliently expandable sleeve 35 having slots 35 (Fig. 5) which is clamped around the outer blank by means of the clamping ring3! and the screw and-lever, bolt means, or the like 38. The sleeve 35 has a flange 39 unitary therewith or united thereto, said flange being secured by means, such as bolts 49, to the top ring M resting on the top spurgear 42 and entrained thereto by means of the pins 42a, the top spurgear running on ballbearings 34a in the top frame 34 (Fig. 4)

The inner flask I2 is supported interiorly on the top collar 41 of the lift rod 48 which also carries the centering collar 48 fitting into the neck of the flask. At its lower extremity, lift rod t6 carries collar 56 riding on track (Figs. 1 and The outer blank 13 and inner flask 12 are supported in the machine in inverted relation, as shown in Fig. 4, with the inner flask telescoped within the outer fiask, the neck portion i2a of said inner flask constituting the lowermost part thereof. The sealing collar 49 is mounted on the inner sleeve shaft Si) in which the lift rod 46 is axially slidable and co-rotative, by means of the key 5| in said sleeve 50 engaging the keyways 51a in the rod.

The inner sleeve 56 is axially slidable in and co-rotative with the outer sleeve 52 by means of key 53 in the outer sleeve shaft engaging a keyway in the inner sleeve 50, the sleeve shaft 52 being rotatable in bushing 54 of lower head bracket 55. The inner sleeve 56 carries mushroom collar 53 riding on double track 59.

Rotation of the flasks, lift rod and sealing rod is effected as follows: Top spurgear 42, which carries the fiask retainer 35, is driven by pinion 33 on shaft 44. Shaft 44 carries a similar pinion 60 which drives spurgear 6! keyed to the outer sleeve shaft 52. Shaft 44 also carries pinion 62 driven by the large spurgear Zila (Figs. 4 and 2). Pinion 62 is mounted on orintegral with the slip clutch body 63 housing the rotatable slip clutch disc 64 mountedon shaft 44. Frictional entrainment of the slip disc 64 is effected by the fiber plugs 65 in the clutch body 63, which are held in contact with the disc 64 by the annular spring 66.

Stopping of the sealing head parts is effected by stop lever 61 carrying roller 68 and mounted on outer sleeve 52. When roller 68 contacts the stop rail 69 at molding position X, unloading position XII, and loading position I (Figs. 1 and 2), the outer sleeve 52, gear 61, pinion 60 and shaft 44 are thereby prevented from rotating, as is also the clutch disc E l. Pinion 62, driven by gear 20a, and clutch body 63, continue to rotate Without interference by reason of the slippage between disc 64 and fiber plugs 65. Other, equivalent slippage means may be substituted therefor within the scope of this invention.

Fig. 1 schematically shows the sealing process in a straight line production arrangement. Loading is eifected at position I, wherein the lift rod 46 is still partially retracted, the collar 56 resting on the sloped portion 51a of track 57. The sealing collar 49 is also down and the mushroom collar 53 on inner sleeve shaft 5% rests on the sloped portion 59a of the double track 59.

The inner flask 82 has the neck Ru and the flared mouth I21), and is provided on top with the spacing pads I20. It is placed by the operator on the top collar 4'! of the lift rod 46, the centering collar 48 entering the neck. This latter collar serves the double purpose of centering the inner flask and of preserving the shape of the neck during the sealing operations. The parts are so proportioned that, preferably, there is a slight space left between the fiared mouth of the inner flask and the sealing collar 49, as shown in Fig. 4E. The outer blank l3, equipped with the exhaust tube l3a at its top, is then manually inserted into the retainer or sleeve 35 and passed over the inner flask.

At position II, the inner fiask is in process of bang raised and is gently preheated by burners At position III, the inner fiask has been raised to its proper elevation, both inner and outer flasks being maintained in this position by the v horizontal portions of tracks 51 and 59, preheating being effected by additional burners 16%).

At position IV, the outer blank is further heated by burners IGI.

At position V, the outer blank is pre-constricted by the shaping roller I53 (see Figs. 1 and 9), heat being supplied by burners it! as before.

At position VI, the outer blank is still further constricted by shaping roller lfi l, while heated by burners I6 I as before.

At position VII, final constriction is effected by roller I65 until the outer blank contacts the fiare of the inner flask, the constricted portion being kept in a plastic condition as before by burners I6l.

At position VIII, the actual sealing and cutting off of the collet III! is effected by the crossfire burners I62, the collet dropping down onto the plate [66 (Fig. 1), the sealing collar d9 having been raised in contact with the mouth of the flask by the raised portion 5% of track 59. While the sealing operation is in progress, compressed air is introduced into the vacuum chamber by the air ducts 78, which are lowered and connected with the flask-exhaust tubes Ilia by any suitable automatic means, so as to preserve the shape of the bottle neck by internal pressure. Thus, the inner flask is fused to the outer blank at the flared mouth end of the inner flask.

At position IX, the neck of the bottle is preformed by the forming roller ll (Figs. 1, 2 and 9) while the glass is being kept plastic by burners 72, the sealing collar 69 having been dropped to its lowest position by the gap in track 5!) (Fig. 1).

At position X, the final forming of the bottle is effected by the molds l3 and 73a and [26 (Figs. 6, '7 and 8), heat being supplied from beneath by the vertical burners 75 (Fig. 1)

The sealed and formed bottle then passes to position XI, where it is annealed by burners it.

It should be noted (Fig. 1) that in positions I-XI inclusive, the centering collar 48 is maintained in position interiorly of the neck of the inner flask.

After annealing at position XI, the lift rod 46 with its top collar 41 and centering collar GE) is entirely retracted from the bottle by the drop 51b of track 51, at position XII (Fig. 1) and the finished bottle is then removed from the retainers 35 by the operator for subsequent silvering and exhausting operations.

During the forming and molding processes, compressed air has been introduced into the vacuum space, from the compressed air manifold 'HJa (Fig. 2) as at the sealing position VIII, for the purpose stated.

Device for operating, shaping and forming rollers (Figs. 1, 2, 9, 10 and 11) The driving roller IE5 at position VII (Figs. 1, 2, 9 and 10) is mounted in a clevis ll fixed to the arched arm 18 of lever arm 19 integral with the boss movably mounted on the vertical shaft 8|. Shaft 8| is revolvable in the sleeve shaft 32, which is journalled in the upright guide 83. The sleeve boss 85, which has an integral lever arm 86, is secured by set screw 84 to the sleeve shaft 82. Above the boss 80, there is mounted on the shaft 8| and secured thereto by a set screw 81' a boss 81. Boss 81 has an arm 88 to the free end of which a pin 88' is fixed, said pin supporting coil spring 89 bearing against arm 19. The upright guide 83 has an arm 90 carrying the adjustable stop pin 9| bearing against the arm I9. Thus, the arms I9 and 86 are moved scissor-wise responsive to the movement of shafts SI and 82, respectively, turned in opposite directions by a suitable device, such as that illustrated in Fig. 3 and later described. On swinging the lever arm I9 inwardly toward blank I3, the roller I65 is urged by the spring 89 against the blank and produces the required constriction, the depth of which, however, is limitable by the adjustable stop 9| of arm 96. The master driving mechanism, above described, shown in Fig. 10, operates all the other rollers, as shown in Figs. 2 and 9.

At position V (Fig. 9), the single lever arm 92 is keyed to the single upright shaft 93 to which there is swivelly connected as at 95 block 55 in which rod 94 is slidably disposed, said rod being connected to the lower lever arm 86 of position VII. The rod 94 is movable in block 95 against tension of spring 96, which is adjustable as to compression by screw nuts 91 or the like on rod 94. When lever arm 86 of position VII moves in the direction of arrow D (Fig. 3), the lever arm 32 of position V is thus entrained in the same direction, by the spring 96 acting on block 55. Thus, roller I 63 is urged against the glass blank I3, the depth of the resulting constriction in blank I3 being limited by the adjustable stop screw 98 on the guide 83a.

At position VI, the roller I64 is operated in a like manner by the connecting rod 99 swivelled as at 99 on the lever arm 86 and slidable in swivel block I [I on lever arm IOI against the tension of spring I02 adjustable as to compression by nuts I03 on. rod 99. Lever arm MI is keyed to vertical shaft I04 and limited as to motion in the direction of arrow D by adjustable stop pin I65 on guide 8%. The lever arm I66 is likewise keyed to shaft I64 and moves in unison with lever arm IIlI, whereby the roller I64 is urged into contact with the glass blank to effectuate the required constriction.

The device employed in posit-ion IX (at which the neck of the bottle is formed by forming roller l I) is similar to that used at position V, but since the connecting rod I6! is swivelled on the lower lever arm 66 at 99 at position VII, the reversing disc I63 is utilized. The connecting rod I6? is swivelled on lug I69 fixed to disc I66, and a second connecting rod I If) is swivelled as at III! on the disc opposite to lug I65. The rod H3 is slidable in the swivel block III mounted on lever arm I I2 against the tension of spring I I5, adjustable by nuts I I6. The swivel block is mounted on lever arm I I2 opposite lever arm-I I3 which carries the forming roller II, the stop pin I is being provided on the guide 830 to limit the travel of the roller 7 I.

The burners (and flames) pass underneath the arched arms I8 of the roller carriers (Figs. 10 and 11), gas being supplied to the burners by the gas ducts I I? from the gas supply pipe I I8 secured to the sides of the table (Fig. 2).

Molding device The molding device shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 8 (and position X, Fig. 2) differs from the devices heretofore employed in bulb blowing machines. especially in the feature of the movable bottom mold. It comprises mold halves I3 and 73a, carried by mold arms IIS and I26, respectively. Arm I23 is keyed on the inner vertical shaft I2 I, and arm H9 is keyed on the sleeve shaft I22, the two shafts being rotated in opposite directions,

whereby the mold halves are alternately opened as shown in dotted lines at position X in Fig. 2, and closed as shown there and in Fig. 8 in full lines. Shaft I22'is journalled in the upright support I23, thrust bearings I24 and I25 being provided to eliminate friction between the mold arm hubs and the support. The mold additionally comprises the vertical cylindrical lip mold. I26 (Fig. 7) slidable in the cylindrical recess I21 of the meld halves 73, 13a. The mold halves are provided with registering means so that when they are closed, as in Fig. 8, the registering means (pins I28) will assure their proper alignment for forming the neck of the vacuum bottle by the inner mold contour I29.

Any suitable device may be employed for ro tating shafts Ill and I22 and thus swinging the mold halves I3, Ella and shafts 8|, 62 of the master drive mechanism of Fig. 10 in opposite directions; such device is schematically shown in Figs. 3 and ii for the mold halves and indicated at III, Fig. for the master drive mechanism of Fig. 10. To the shafts I2! and I22 are clamped the collars E and I45 respectively, swivelly connected at I45, I45 to levers I41, Ml swivelly connected as at I48 to block I48 which is reciprocated by rod I43. actuated by crank lever I having arm I5! to which the cam roller- I52 is secured for following contact with cam I53 on shaft I54. Shaft I54 is shown rotated by bevel gear drive I-I55a on shaft I56, and belt drive I51 from shaft 26 (Fig. 3 and station K, Fig. 2).

The vertical lip mold I26, which has the cir cular lip forming groove I30, then moves up into contact with the bottle, whereby the lip is formed and smoothed. The vertical lip mold I26 consists of the halves IZSa, I26b, which are movable in the cylindrical recess I2I defined by the lower ends of the mold halves I3, 13a. Levers I3I are carried by and pivotally connected to the mold halves I3, 13a as by pivot pins I3Ia, and have at one end rollers I3Ib engaging the grooves I3Ic of the vertical mold halves I26a, I26l1. At their other ends, levers I 3I are provided with rollers I 3Id. When the mold halve-s I3, 13a are closed (the levers I 3I being carried by the mold halves). the rollers I3Id of the levers will register with the open jaw ends I32a of the cross bar I32. When the mold halves are opened, the levers I3I are carried with the mold halves to the open position out of the path of the lift rods 46. The lip mold I26 is moved up (after the mold halves I3, 13a are closed) and retracted (after the mold halves have been opened) by suitable means such as by the levers I3I on shaft I32 engaging bracket I33 fixed on vertical shaft I34 (Fig. 6) guided in lugs I35 and raised and lowered by lever I36, vertical shaft I31 and cam lever I38, which is fulcrumed at I38 in bracket I39 fixed to table I5. Lever I38 carries cam roller I40, held in following contact with cam MI by spring I42. The lip mold I26 has the holes I43 communicating with the funnel recess I 44 for passing bits of glass in case the lip formed on the bottle should break in the process of molding.

During the molding operation, the molds are heated by the vertical burners I5 (position K. Fig. 1), the bottle remaining in the sealing head 33 as before. The sealing collar 49 is retracted (due to the break in track 59 past position VIII) before the molding operation at position IX.

The air ducts 10 which fit over the exhaust tubes I3a. (Fig. 1) are carried by the air manifold Illa (Fig. 2) which is periodically raised and lowered by any desired or convenient lifting cam device, and air is introduced by the 'economizer I 58 inthe usual way through the supply duct I59 connected with a main compressed air supply source.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a vacuum flask sealing machine, means for supporting an outer blank and an inner flask comprising the vacuum flask in inverted relation with the inner flask telescoped within the outer blank, said inner flask having a neck portion which constitutes the lowermost portion thereof when said flask is supported in said inverted position, a molding unit comprising mold members movable into and out of closing position about the vacuum flask, and a vertical cylindrical lip mold adapted to be moved into engagement with the neck portion of the flask to form the same into a lip portion, said lip forming mold being provided with a circular groove at the upper end thereof, and being provided with a recess in the lower portion and with apertures opening into said recess. 1

2. In a vacuum flask sealing machine, means for supporting an outer blank and an inner flask comprising the vacuum flask, in inverted relation with the inner flask telescoped Within the outer blank, said inner flask having a neck portion which constitutes the lowermost portion thereof when said flask is supported in said inverted position, and a molding unit comprising mold members movable into and out of closing position about the vacuum flask, said mold members having a cylindrical recess in the lower end thereof, and a vertical cylindrical lip mold adapted to be moved into engagement with the neck portion of the flask to form the same into a lip portion, said lip forming mold being provided with a circular groove at the upper end thereof, and being provided with a recess in the lower portion and with apertures opening into said recess.

CHARLES EISLER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are .of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 852,099 Bock Apr. 30, 1907 1,242,837 Moberg Oct. 9, 1917 1,674,182 Siegheim June 19, 1928 1,755,307 Rohl Apr. 22, 1930 1,786,456 Rohl Dec. 30, 1930 1,869,533 Wetmore Aug. 2, 1932 2,102,357 Dichter Dec. 14, 1937 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 358,949 Great Britain Apr. 8, 1930 

